Frequent Major Changing: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors
Twenty undergraduates participated in individual, semi-structured interviews concerning their decisions to change majors. We found three common extrinsic and three intrinsic factors related to their decisions. Extrinsic factors included parents who were supportive but not meaningfully directive, lack of familial external guidance, and lack of knowledge concerning chosen majors and future careers. Intrinsic factors included students' difficulty making long-term decisions, desires for a major that meshed well with their personal interests, and satisfaction with majors that met those requirements.
Relative Emphasis: research, practice, theory
Contributor Notes
Michael W. Firmin earned his PhD from Syracuse University. Having taught college for 20 years, he is professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. He is a licensed psychologist and national certified counselor. He directs the national, juried Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Conference, now in its 21st annual year and edits the Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research. E-mail Dr. Firmin at firmin@cedarville.edu.
Lisa M. MacKillop earned her BA degree in psychology from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. She is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pennsylvania.
